Portable flashlight



Feb. 9, 1937. A. c. RECKER 2,0705516 PORTABLE FLASHLIGHT Filed Oct. 11, 1954 Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PORTABLE FLASHLIGHT Adolph C. Becker, Watertown,

Conn., assignor to The Chase Companies, Incorporated, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation Application October 11, 1934, Serial No. 747,840

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improvement in portable flashlights and particularly to portable tubular flashlights which have a. control-plunger at one end and an electric bulb at the other and primarily designed for convenient carriage in the pocket of a user, though not so limited.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a flashlight having a controlor' contact-plunger at one end and characterized by surety of operation and freedom from derangement.

A further object is to provide a. superior flashlight of the character referred to which may be readily and conveniently assembled.

Another object is to provide a flashlight of the character referred to which may be produced at low cost for manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing and appended claim, the present invention includes therein which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a portable flashlight constructed in accordance with the present invention;

, Fig. 2 is a broken central-longitudinal sectional view thereof;

30 Fig. 3 is a broken central-longitudinal sectional view, showing the contact-plunger depressed;

Fig. 4 is a transverse the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

35 Fig. 5 is a view mainly "in side elevation and partly in section of the unit comprising the contact-plunger and guide-skirt;

Fig. 6 is a view mainly "in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section of the socket; and

Fig. 7 is an end view thereof.

The portable flashlight herein chosen as illustrative of the present invention comprises a tubular body-member Ill having one end inturned to form an annular stop-lip II and having its 45 opposite end l2 threaded and fitting within the threaded outwardly-expanded skirt I3 of an endcap I4, which latter, together with the said bodymember ID, constitutes a flashlight-housing or body.

The domical outer end of the end-cap I4 is provided with an aperture l5 through which normally projects the outer end of an axiallyreciproc'ating contact-plunger l6 housed mainly within the said end-cap and adapted to have its inner end engaged with the adjacent end of an all features disclosed a sectional view. taken on electric cell l1, two (more or less) of which latter are housed within the tubular body l0 before referred to. The parts above described are preferably formed of brass or other suitable conducting material for the purpose as will hereinafter 5 appear. I

The electric cell adjacent the threaded end of the tubular body It! rests against a washer-like seat l8 formed of insulating material, such as intimated fiber, and in turn resting against an m annular shoulder is formed at the junction of the tubular rear portion 20 of the end-cap l4 and its expanded threaded skirt l3.

Bearing against the rear face of the seat is above referred to is the enlarged forward end is of a helical retracting-spring 2| having its outer end, which is of smaller diameter than its inner end as shown, fitted within the interior of a sheet-metal guide-skirt 22 snugly fitting, with freedom for sliding movement, the interior of the tubular portion 20 of the end-cap I 4. The domical outer end of the said guide-skirt 22 bears against an abutment-flange 23 formed on the contact-plunger l6 adjacent the outer end thereof, and the said guide-skirt is rigidly secured to 25 the contact-plunger l6 by being provided with an inturned flange 24 fitting the contact-plunger IS -with a drive-fit.

Bearing against the inner face of the inturned stop-lip at the forward end of the tubular bodymember I0 is an electric bulb 25 having its threaded portion 26 screwed into the threaded portion 21 of a socket-member 28 formed with three (more or less) rearwardly-extending retaining-fingers 29, each of which terminates at its rear end in a hump portion -30 to better grip the interior surface of the forward end of the tubular body I0, which latter is preferably of serrated form in transverse section, as shown.

\ In assembling the flashlight, the bulb 25 is 0 first screwed into the threaded portion 21 of the socket 28, which latter, together with the bulb 25, is forced into the tubular body 10 from the open rear end thereof until the said bulb 25 engages with the inner face of the stop-lip II. The electric cells I! may now he installed in the tubular body. 4

The end-cap I4 is prepared for application to the body-member I 0 by first sliding the unit comprising the contact-plunger l6 and its guideskirt 22 inward though the open end of the cap, so as to project the end of the contact-plunger outwardly through the aperture l5. The retracting-spring 2| may now be installed, after which the washer-like seat 3 is placed in the said cap. Preferably, the washer-like seat I8 is of such size as to require it to. be forced, inward against the shoulder l9 of the cap, so as to semipermanently retain the retracting-spring 2|, contact-plunger l6 and its skirt 22 in place within the cap against accidental displacement therefrom when the cap is detached from the tubular body-member l0,

After the parts I6, l8, 2| and 22 have been assembled within the cap, the latter may be screwed over the threaded rear end of the tubular body l0, so as to bring the washer-like seat 18 into engagement with the outer end of the rearmost one of the electric cells 11 and thus force the column thereof forwardly to engage the terminal of the foremost of said cellswith the.

rearwa'rdly-projecting terminal of the bulb 25.

Now, when it is desired to energize the bulb 25, the contact-plunger "5 may be moved inwardly by means of its projecting outer end against the tension of the retracting-spring 2|, with the effect of correspondingly moving the guide-skirt 22 and projecting the inner end of the said contact-plunger l6 forwardly through the relatively-large aperture in the seat l8 and into engagement with the rearmost one of the electric cells l1. By the operation just described, an electric circuit is completed which serves to energize the bulb 25. Upon release of pressure upon the rear end of the contact-plunger IS, the same will be retracted by means of the retracting-spring 2| with the effect of breaking the circuit through the bulb 25.

The provision of the contact-plunger IS with a hollow guide-skirt within which the retracting-spring fits serves to insure the proper guidance of the said plunger and the closing of the circuit when the said plunger is depressed, without, however, unduly lengthening or laterally expanding the structure to accommodate the parts.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than that herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claim are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

A flashlight comprising a tubular body-member having one end threaded; an electric bulb at the end of the said body-member opposite its threaded end; a cap secured to the end of the said bodymember opposite the said bulb and comprising a cylindrical portion at its outer end and an expanded threaded skirt at its inner end engaged with the threaded end of the said body-member; a ring-like spring-seat of insulating material located at the junction-point of the cylindrical outer, end of the said cap and its expanded threaded skirt; a contact-plunger projecting through the outer end of the said cap and having a guide-skirt bearing therein;

and a retracting-spring fitting within the said guide-skirt and acting to outwardly press the said contact-plunger and its said guide-skirt. 

